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The MLB Daily Dish is a daily feature we're running here at MLBDD and rounds up roster-impacting news, rumors, and analysis. Have feedback or have something that should be shared? Hit us at @mlbdailydish on Twitter.
Good morning baseball fans!
Monday we had the too early NL Cy-Young frontrunners. Yesterday, we had the AL Cy-Young frontrunners from our own Michael Bradburn.
The Twins made a splash, calling up one of their top pitching prospects in Jose Berrios.
Freddie Freeman batted sixth on Monday. The Braves are currently 4-15. Those two things might not be unrelated.
Freddie Freeman got his two hits. The Atlanta front office got their loss. We can chide Gonzalez for his decision to bat his star behind Jeff Francouer, and somewhat rightfully so. But there are only so many bats in the lineup, only so much talent on a roster that more resembles a Triple-A team than a team that once rampaged through the NL East with regularity.
Perhaps this will be the start of a slow slog back towards statistical relevancy for the star first baseman. Even if he bats .330 from here on out, it won't matter. He is trapped in baseball purgatory. Baseball isn't basketball. He can't singlehandedly push Atlanta into mediocrity. He can only bat when the lineup card dictates, do his best to help his laughable team win, and pray that change comes as quickly as possible.
More front office confidence polls, from the AL and NL Central.
The Blue Jays are willing to offer a contract extension to Jose Bautista, but it's far from what he's asking for.
Here is the latest edition of the Rosterbatorical.
Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs wants to know what's going on with Odubel Herrera.
Where I assume this goes: Over time, pitchers will be more aggressive with strikes, because Herrera won’t be hitting for much power. He’s not going to keep getting ahead 1-and-0 all the time, and that’ll cost him free passes. Obviously, he won’t keep getting this many free passes. But it would be interesting to see where Herrera ends up if he maintains this up-the-middle approach. He does have pull power, but he doesn’t have so much that he should be selling out for it. He should be looking to hit line drives on strikes, and so far, so good. Herrera’s been a little lucky to walk as often as he has, but that doesn’t mean it’s all been a fluke. Herrera, I think, has shortened up, and though that’s something he did in the name of more contact, it looks like his on-base skills could benefit. He’s not going to save these Phillies by himself, but for a player they got for nothing, this is the second encouraging twist.
Here is a roundup of news from the NL East.
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Today in Baseball History: In 1971, Hank Aaron becomes the third member to join the 600 home-run club.